Transparency data

Summary of the board meeting held on 19 November 2025

Updated 27 January 2026

Applies to England

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Protective marking

Official

Attendees and presenters

Board members present

  • Phil Smith CBE (Chair)
  • Sir David Bell (Vice Chair)
  • Dr Fiona Aldridge
  • Dr Fazal Dad CBE
  • Sian Elliott
  • Nicki Hay MBE
  • Brian Holliday
  • Anthony Impey MBE
  • Dame Fiona Kendrick
  • Zoe Lewis CBE
  • Sara Todd
  • Andy Westwood
  • Helen Woodward Davies
  • Tessa Griffiths CBE (CEO)
  • Sarah Maclean CBE (CEO)
  • Gemma Marsh (Deputy CEO)

Skills England officials present

  • Lucy Rigler, Deputy Director Corporate Governance and Performance
  • Frank Bowley, Deputy Director Insight and Analysis
  • Board Secretary

Other stakeholders present

  • None

Apologies

  • None

Item 1: welcome, introductions and declarations of conflict of interest

Lead: Skills England Chair - Phil Smith

  1. Phil Smith, (the Chair) welcomed board members and participating officials to the board meeting and strategy event and explained that the Board meeting would be a short meeting ahead of the strategy discussion.

  2. The Chair asked board members whether they had any new declarations of conflict of interest to make. All board members recognised that should a potential or actual conflict arise (outlined in the declaration of interests) then it must be raised at the outset of the relevant meeting.

Item 2: minutes and actions from the last meeting

Lead: Skills England Chair

  1. ​​Board members approved the minutes from the meeting held on 17 September 2025. 

  2. ​The Board Secretary took board members through the list of actions, agreeing to close those actions which were proposed to be closed. Board members noted progress on the two remaining open actions regarding future items for discussion and how Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officials’ ways of working were developing.​ 

Item 3: CEO report

Lead: ​CEOs Sarah Maclean and Tessa Griffiths​

  1. ​​Sarah Maclean introduced the report, highlighting the impact that Skills England’s work is having, resulting in greater awareness of Skills England’s work more generally. Sarah cited examples of activity where Skills England’s work is being highlighted, such as the speech the CEOs made at the Association of Colleges conference on the launch of the Local Skills Improvement Plan guidance published by Skills England on 18 November. In addition, the recent publication of the AI skills for the UK workforce report including practical tools for AI adoption by employers was identified. This report, alongside previous Skills England reports, had been well-received, widely shared and quoted by key stakeholders.  

  2. ​Board members were keen to understand Skills England’s role regarding the growth and skills offer (GSO) and levy. Board members discussed the possibilities regarding the GSO and agreed to return to it as part of the board strategy session scheduled to follow this board meeting, acknowledging that Skills England’s position should start from ensuring, where at all possible, it was meeting the expectations of its stakeholders. 

  3. ​Board members were also keen to understand how they could support amplifying key announcements made by Skills England and the CEOs agreed to ensure board members were briefed on future announcements and key messages. 

  4. ​As there was no AOB, the board meeting ended at this time and moved into the scheduled annual strategy session. 

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